A man of Bizen Province whose name is unknown had been blind since the age of twelve. He visited the Yakushi Buddha of Chūdō and prayed for his sight. Twenty-seven days later, an old priest appeared to the man and said to him, “You became blind due to your karma from your previous life, and you will not regain your sight. In your former life, you were a snake living in the trunk of a nettle tree at the north corner of the Kawadaji Temple. A hijiri who lived in that temple recited the Hokekyō and you listened during the days and nights. Since you had grave sins, you got little food and underwent many sufferings. At night, you used to go into the temple hall and lick the oil for the taper.

“Thanks to the merit of listening to the Hokekyō recitation, you received a human body and have learned about the Law. However, because you stole the oil for the tapers, you have become blind and will not be able to see again during this life. You should immediately recite the Hokekyō and expiate your sins. In another life, you will be endowed with the clear sight of a heavenly person perceiving the vast world of the Law and you will benefit others.”

The man became repentant, expiated his karmic sins and recited the Hokekyō. He understood the whole sūtra from the beginning to the end and acquired its merits. Now he could control his delusions, became completely free from his physical and mental sufferings, and finally attained enlightenment. (Page 54-55)